THE WEEK’S STORIES

POLITICS

Police confirmed that Barnet LBC mayor Brian Coleman (Con), right, would face no further action following allegations that he made an “intimidating” phone call to an independent candidate in the forthcoming council elections. (LGCplus report)

Conservative Tower Hamlets LBC candidate Martin Coxall was arrested following a scuffle as he allegedly tried to reach former deputy prime minister John Prescott during a rally in Poplar in east London. (LGCplus report)

FINANCE

Research by the Institute for Public Policy Research found that the Barnett formula could lead to spending cuts having a disproportionate effect on England rather than the devolved administrations. (LGCplus report)

Finance directors ‘often lack leadership skills’

Newly appointed finance directors are often “poorly equipped to deal with the leadership challenges facing senior council staff”, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy warned. The caution comes as CIPFA announced dates for its leadership academy courses, which are designed to help new finance chiefs understand their management responsibilities.

MANAGEMENT

Councils from across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough signed an agreement to share legal expertise in an attempt to drive down costs. The Cambridgeshire Legal Service Partnership will offer services including planning enforcement, prosecuting rogue traders and food hygiene offences. (LGCplus report)

HEALTH

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said the party’s health policies were no longer disregarded. He added there was a need for decentralising power and accountability in the NHS (HSJ report).

EDUCATION

Shadow education secretary Michael Gove defended the Conservative Party’s proposals to fund parents who wanted to set up their own state schools after Kent CC leader Paul Carter (Con) warned that the budgets of existing schools would be affected. (LGCplus report)

A care home manager who displayed “an element of cruelty” towards a service user with learning disabilities has been struck off by the General Social Care Council. Birmingham City Council employee Angela Turner had been a manager at the Elms Residential Unit (Community Care report).

Mike Thomas, chair of the Association of Youth Offending Team Managers, said very few youth offending teams had social workers seconded to them. He said it seemed the one group of staff with the most involvement in safeguarding was not involved in youth offending teams in the way it should be (Children & Young People Now report).

Leicestershire CC is switching off lights at 18 sites in the south of the county, as well as starting a part-night switch-off in six villages from May in an attempt to cut electricity bills. (LGCplus report)

Research published by the European Union-funded European Wind Energy Association showed that it takes only 26 months to get wind farm projects approved in the UK, compared with an EU average of 42 months (planningresource.co.uk report).

PEOPLE

Correction: Roger Hampson

Last week’s edition of LGC stated that Roger Hampson, chief executive of Redbridge LBC, was 49 years old. He is in fact 59. We apologise for any confusion caused.

LGC’s selection of this week’s must-read news items plus a comprehensive round-up of news from all local government’s service areas and disciplines.NOTE: Click on the headlines for more on the stories.

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